Electric massage device



' March 19, 1940. L, H, M|| ER 2,193,978

ELECTRIC MASSAGE DEVICE Filed July 1, 1939 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC MASSAGE DEVICE Leonard H. Miller, Bloomfield, N. J., assgnorto Gladyce S. Miller, Bloomfield, N. J.

Application July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,361

9 Claims.

The present invention is directed to massaging devices, more paricularly to electrically operated, hand manipulated apparatus for the purpose of massaging parts of the body.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a device which is simple in construction, which is light in weight, may be easily manipulated, and one which is highly eiiective in producing massaging effects. Massaging devices of the general character described herein have been previously known and used. However, ycertain of such devices were hand operated and therefore it was practically impossible to obtain adequate massaging effects. On the other hand, a number of devices which were electrically operated were large and bulky, generally involving the use of a motor with flexible shafting for the operation of the massaging elements. Such devices were unwieldy, very eX- pensive and were not within the reach of the ordinary user.

The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages and difculties involved in the use of the prior hand and motor driven devices and to provide a construction which is simple and highly effective.

In the accompanying drawing, constituting a part hereof, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts, 3U Fig. l is a front elevational view of a device made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 5, showing a slightly modified forni of device;

35 Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device, some parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof, with the cove member removed;

40 Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the assembled structure;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation lol the upper part of a modified form of ,the device;

45 Fig. 7 is a plan View similar to Fig. 5, showing a modified form of massaging element; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the modication shown in Fig. '7.

The device comprises a casing I of any suit- :30 able material but usually of molded non-metallic material such as a heat-hardened synthetic resin composition. A series of ribs 2, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, extend around the body of the casing and affords a gripping sur- 55 face for the hand so as to avoid the possibilit;r

(Cl. 12S-41) of the device slipping from the hand during manipulation thereof. An opening 3 in the bottom of the casing provides means for the introduction of electric Wiring into the casing. A pair of slits 4 on opposite sides of the casing near 5 the bottom thereof assist inthe operation of the device by allowing circulation of air into the casing to assist in cooling the electromagnet therein, and also to avoid undue building up of pressure which would interfere with the vibratory1o eiTects. l

The electromagnet consists of a coil 5 of usual construction having a laminated core 5 fitted within and around the same. The end laminations 'l have horizontally turned ,portions 8 as 15 shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 4. Lugs 9 corresponding to portions 8 formed in the molded casing I co-operate with portions 8 and by means of screws l0, the electromagnet is held in its proper position. Leads II from coil 5 pass l 20 through opening 3 to a source of power. The upper surface I2 of the electromagnet is in proximity to the upper open edge of casing I.

A cover I3 of flexible non-metallic material, usually a soft rubber composition, has a depend- 25 ing lange I4 fitting tightly over the upper edge of casing I whereby the frictional action holds cover I3 in place. Around the rim of said cover is a relatively thin section l5 and within the same is a disc or plate I6 of suitable material, 30 usually of iron, acting as an armature forv the electromagnet. As shown in Figs. 2 andv3 said armature IB is entirely embedded in the rubber or other composition.

The operation of the device is quite simple. The operator holds the casing l in his hand and turns on the electric current, which is normally A. C. Due to the pulsations of the current, there is attraction of the armature to the poles of the electro-magnet at each cycle and upon reversal 40 of the cycle, the cover I3 with armature I5 tends to spring back into its original position because of the elasticity of the material. Because of the relatively thin portion I5, the cover I3 will vibrate as a whole and thus give massaging effects over the entire surface thereof. y

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the cover I3 is more securely fastened to casing I. ,For this purpose the casing is provided with a horizontal flange Il and the cover is provided with an inturned ange I8, whereby upon stretching of the flange I8, it may be fitted over flange l1 and the resiliency thereof snap the same securely in position.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6. the cover I3 is entirely of the resilient molded material and the armature is separate therefrom. The casing l is provided with an oiiset portion providing a seat at the upper edge thereof. A rubbervor like washer I9 is inserted on said seat and a disc 2D of iron or similar material is held in a groove in said Washer. A central convex portion 2l on disc 20 contacts with the inner face of cover i3. By reason of said contact during the operation of the electromagnet, the cover I3 will vibrate as a whole..

In Figs. 7 and 8, there is shown a slight mod.

iiication 0f the upper surface of the cover I3 wherein there are provided a seriesof spaced knobs or buttons 22 usually formed integrally with the cover I3, such projections constituting massage elements such as are well known in the art.

Although I have describedy my invention set- `ting forth several embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to the specific details set forth herein but is susceptible of various changes in form, size and character of materials within the scope of the invention. Several methods of mounting the electromagnet may be used and the armature may be of different physical characteristics and diiierently united with the cover. It is not necessary that the armature be molded within the cover but may be secured thereto in any desired manner. The relative positions of the armature and electromagn-et may be reversed, i. e., the armature I6 may be fitted inside the casing and secured to the walls thereof by lugs similar to lugs' 9. At the same time the electromagnet may be secured to the cover i3 either directly by being molded as a part thereof or by being secured thereto by suitable means as for instance by having a metal piece molded within the covei and the electromagnet bolted to said piece. rIhese and other changes may be made without departing from the principles herein set forth and the character of the invention is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. An electric massage device comprising, a casing open at one end, an electromagnet secured within said casing in proximity to said open end, a gap in said magnet facing said end, a cover of flexible non-metallic material fitted over said end and frictionally engaging the same, and 'a metallic armature constituting a part of said cover of lesser diameter than said casing, said cover having a relatively thin rim portion wherein flexing of said cover takes place.

2. An electric massage device comprising, a casing open at one end, an electromagnet secured Within said casing in proximity to said open end, a gap in said magnet facing said end, a cover of flexible non-metallic material fitted over said end and frictionally engaging the same, massage elements formed on the outer surface of said cover, and a metallic armature constituting a part of said cover.

3. An electric massage device comprising7 a casing open at one end, an electromagnet secured within said casing in proximity to said open end, a series of iron laminations comprising the magnetic path thereof, the outer laminations having outwardly bent portions, means for securing said portions to said casing, a gap in said magnet facing said end, a cover of iiexible non-metallic material fitted over said end and frictionally engaging the same, and a metallic armature constituting a part of said cover, the cover having soft, exible portions surrounding the armature, said armature being Wholly supported by said soft, flexible portions of said cover.

4. An electric massage device comprising, a casing open at one end, a cover of soft flexible rubber or the like fitted over said end and frictionally engaging the same, an electromagnet and an armature therefor in co-operation therewith, one of said latter elements being secured to said cover and being elastically carried thereby and the other being secured within said casing.

5. An electric massage device comprising, a casing open at one end, a cover of flexible soft rubber fitted over said end and frictionally engaging the same, an electromagnet and an armature therefor in cooperation therewith, said elec tromagnet being secured to said cov-er and depending into said casing and being carried solely by the rubber material of which said cover is composed, said armature being xedly mounted in said casing, the gap of said magnet being in proximity to said armature.

6. An electric massage device comprising, a casing open at one end, an electromagnet secured Within said casing in proximity to the open end, a gap in said magnet facing said end, a cover of relatively soft rubber fitted over said end, a metallic armature embedded in said cover and completely enclosed thereby, said armature being of lesser diameter than the casing whereby the same is supported by a flexible rubber rim portion disposed between the edge of the armature and the edge of the casing over which the rubber cover is fitted.

7. An electric massage device comprising, a casing containing an electromagnet, said casing having an open end, a soft rubber cover fitted over said end and containingT an embedded armature of lesser diameter than the open end of the casing, said armature being located in operative relationship to the electromagnet.

8. An electric massage device comprising, a casing containing an electromagnet, said casing having an open end, a cover of elastic non-metallic material fitted over and closing the open end of the casing, a metallic armature embedded in the cover and solely supported by the material of said cover, said cover having a portion interposed between the edge or" the armature and the Wall of the casing at the open end thereof for free flexing movement without .iiexurc of the armature.

9. In an electric massage device, a casing containing an electromagnet. said casing having an open end, a soft rubber applicator fitted over the casing and closing the open end thereof, said applicatorv enclosing an embedded armature, the applicator having a resilient soft rubber portion interposed between the edge of the armature and the edge of the casing around the open end, said portion constituting a sole exible support for the armature.

LEONARD H. MILLER. 

